Michael Campbell didn’t just win a giant trophy on Sunday. He also took home $1,125,000, exempt status on the PGA Tour for the next five years, invitations to the next five Masters, British Opens, Players Championships, and PGA Championships, and invitations to the next ten U.S. Opens. That’s just gotta take some of the pressure off.

He also, with this win, almost doubled his career earnings, and won himself a spot in the hearts of many golfing Americans, mine included. But now the Open is over, and I find myself suffering from a bit of withdrawal.

No worries, there’s another one this weekend. The women are going to tee it up in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado, to see who can take the U.S. Women’s Open title away from Meg Mallon.

Will it be Annika? If so, she’ll bring home $560,000, her third major for the year, and her seventh win out of nine starts. Let’s put that in perspective. Tiger’s had 12 starts this year, and won three events, including one major. Not six events. Three. Annika’s won twice as many events so far, and twice as many majors. Tiger’s 2005 winnings so far total $4,800,290. Annika’s total $1,503,238.

Notice anything? If not, let me spell it out for you. The women earn less than half of what the men make, even when they win twice as often. I leave it to you to draw your own conclusions as to why.

If for no other reason, this is why I’m thrilled when players like Michelle Wie and Suzy Whaley tee it up at men's events. They deserve their shot at those ginormous purses just as much as the guys do.

And yes, Michelle will indeed be in the field this weekend; this year, she got there by qualifying, unlike last year when she became the first amateur to get in by invitation.

Be sure to check out the Golf Grouch’s great blog on Annika and her Grand Slam goals. I just love that guy.